Biomolecules

What molecules keep us alive, and how do they

do so?
 Open to the next available page in
your journal and construct this chart
Title: Biomolecules
Biomolecule Monomer Function Examples Made up
of:
Carbohydrate

Lipid

Proteins

Nucleic
Acids
 Biomolecules

• All living organisms require several compounds to

continue to live.
• We call these compounds biomolecules. All of
these biomolecules are organic, which means that
they contain carbon.
• Carbon has four valence electrons, which means this
element forms strong covalent bonds with many other
elements.
 Let’s get started!!
Amoeba sisters and Biomolecules
 Biomolecules
• All of our biomolecules are classified into four
groups:
• Carbohydrates
• Lipids
• Proteins
• Nucleic Acids
• Each of these classes have different structures
and functions.
 Biomolecules

• Biomolecules are formed by joining many

small units together to form a long chain.
• This process is called synthesis. Often, a
water molecule is removed in the process.
• When this happens, we call it
dehydration synthesis.
 Building up polymers
Dehydration Synthesis
• Creates a polymer from a biomolecules
monomers.
• In this process, an OH and H are removed
(water) during synthesis of a new molecule.

8
 Breaking down polymers

• Hydrolysis breaks a covalent bond by adding OH

and H from a water molecule.

Biological molecules 10
Dehydration vs. Hydrolysis
 Biomolecules
• The smallest functioning unit of a biomolecule is a
monomer.
• “Mono-” means ONE.
• Put two monomers together, and you get a dimer.
• Di-” means TWO.
• Once several monomers are put together, we get a polymer.
• “Poly-” means MANY.
 Carbohydrates
• Carbohydrates are
biomolecules used for
energy and structural
support.
• Breaking
carbohydrates down
provides an organism
with energy.
 Carbohydrates

• Carbohydrates are made up • Monomer:

of carbon, hydrogen and Monosaccharide
oxygen. • Dimer: Disaccharide
• The ratio of these • Polymer:
elements is roughly
Polysaccharide
1 carbon: 2 hydrogen :1
oxygen.
C6H12O6
 Carbohydrates

• Carbohydrates are
primarily used to
provide us with energy.
• All monosaccharides
and disaccharides end
in “-ose”.
• Glucose is used as a
common energy source
for most organisms.
Carbohydrates

• There are many other

types of carbs in
nature:
• Fructose (fruit sugar)
• Lactose (milk sugar)
• Sucrose (table sugar)
• Ribose/Deoxyribose
(important for DNA
and RNA)
 Carbohydrates

• Carbohydrates can be bonded

to each other through
dehydration synthesis.
• Remember, that’s when
water is lost as two
smaller molecules bond
to form a larger molecule.
Carbohydrates
 Carbohydrates

• When we have excess

carbs, we store them as
starches, which are
polysaccharides.
• Starches are long chains
of carbs.
• Plants also use cellulose
(another
polysaccharide) for
structural support.
 Carbohydrates
• Indicators are
chemicals that detect
the presence of a
certain compound.
• Benedict’s solution
reacts with MOST
mono- and
disaccharides.
• Sucrose is a notable
exception!
 Carbohydrates
• If a detectable carbohydrate is present, then the
indicator changes color, based on how many
carbs are present.
• Green → Yellow → Orange → Red
 Carbohydrates

• Iodine is used to detect

starch, since it reacts
readily with starch.
• This reaction
produces a purple-
black coloration.
 Lipids

• Lipids are used for four

crucial purposes:
• Storing energy
• Waterproof barriers
• Chemical messengers
• Insulation
 Lipids

• Lipids are made up of • Most common lipids are

carbon, hydrogen and composed of two
oxygen. different functional
groups:
• The ratio of these
elements is roughly • Glycerol, an alcohol
with three oxygen
1carbon: 2 hydrogen.
groups.
Oxygen is present only
in trace amounts. • Fatty acids, which are
long hydrocarbon chains.
 Lipids

• ALL lipids repel water,

due to how
hydrophobic they are.
This means that they
do not bond to water
molecules.
 Lipids

• Lipids are grouped by the

number of double bonds found
in the hydrocarbon chain.
• Saturated fats have the
maximum number of hydrogen
atoms possible, and as such,
they have no double bonds.
• They tend to be solid at
room temperature.
 Lipids

• Unsaturated fats have • Monounsaturated

double bonds. They do fats have only ONE
NOT have the double bond.
maximum possible
• Polyunsaturated fats
number of hydrogen
have MORE THAN
atoms.
ONE double bond in
• They tend to be the hydrocarbon chain.
liquid at room
temperature.
 Lipids

Monounsaturated Polyunsaturated
Lipids

• It’s important to note

that fats are a specific
type of lipid.
• Chemically, all fats are
triglycerides – they
have three fatty acids
bonded to one glycerol
molecule.
 Lipids

• Steroids are lipids

with four rings bonded
together.
• Steroids are vital as
hormones, which are
chemical signals used
in the body.
 Lipids

• Oily and fatty foods tend • We can also use ethanol,

to leave stains upon which dissolves lipids.
contact. • The dissolved fats are
• This is why we can then diluted with water.
Since water and lipids
use brown paper to
don’t mix, the lipids
detect fats. come out of solution.
• This creates an emulsion
– a milky, cloudy liquid.
 Protein
• Proteins serve many vital
functions in the body:
• Structural support
• Enzymes (Speeding up
chemical reactions)
• Transport of molecules
• Fighting infection
• …and many more!
 Protein

• All proteins contain • Monomer: Amino acid

carbon, hydrogen, • Polymer: Protein or
oxygen and nitrogen. polypeptide
• In addition, sulfur may • A peptide is a chain of
be present as well. amino acids, so a
polypeptide is several
chains put together.
 Protein

• ALL amino acids

contain an amino or
N-group. It contains
nitrogen (N).
• ALL amino acids also
contain a carboxyl or
C-group. It contains
carbon (C).
 Protein

• However, amino acids

also have a variable
group or R-group.
This differs from one
amino acid to the next.
• There are 20 standard
amino acids, and thus
20 possible R-groups.
Protein

• Amino acids are bound

together through
dehydration synthesis.
• The C-group of one
amino acid binds to the
N-group of another.
• We call these bonds
peptide bonds.
 Protein
• Proteins can also
function as hormones.
• However, protein
hormones tend to have
difficulty passing the
cell membrane.
• As such, many protein
hormones have to fit a
cellular receptor before
they can affect the cell.
 Protein Production
• Proteins have four phases of production:
• Primary: Amino acids are bound together.
• Secondary: Individual amino acids are bent and
molded as needed.
• Tertiary: The entire chain of amino acids is bent
and molded as needed, forming a sub-unit.
• Quaternary: Multiple completed sub-units are
fitted together to make a complete protein.
 Protein Test
Indicator
• The Biuret test is used
to detect protein.
• The test relies on a
color change to
confirm the presence
of proteins. If proteins
are found, the sample
will turn violet.
 Hydrolysis

• Hydrolysis is the reverse process of dehydration

synthesis.
• In dehydration synthesis, water is lost to create a
bigger molecule.
• In hydrolysis, water is ADDED, and a bigger
molecule is broken down into smaller pieces.
• Hydrolysis = hydro and lysis. Hydro means water, and
lysis means to break down.
 Nucleic Acids
• Nucleic acids are
biomolecules that contain
the blueprints for making
proteins. Nucleic acids
also transmit genetic info
to the next generation.
• Includes:
• DNA
• RNA
 Nucleic Acids

• Nucleic acids • Monomer:

contain carbon, Nucleotides
hydrogen, oxygen, • Polymer: Nucleic
nitrogen, and Acid
phosphorus.
• Examples: DNA,
• Remember the RNA
acronym: CHONP!
 Nucleic Acids
Monomer- Nucleotide
• A nucleotide is
made up of three
parts:
• 5-carbon sugar
• Phosphate group
• Nitrogenous
base
 Nucleic Acids

• The 5-carbon sugar is

deoxyribose, in the case
of DNA.
• However, it is ribose in
the case of RNA.
• This is how those
molecules got their name!
 Nucleic Acids

• As stated earlier, nucleic acids are the blueprints for

proteins. Proteins are made from these templates.
• Also, DNA can be passed on from parent to child.
This allows SOME characteristics to be passed
down to offspring. These traits are considered
hereditary.
• RNA can NOT be passed down to offspring,
however!